[89.01] Introduction

A. Upgren (Wesleyan University)

Astronomy has been adversely affected by light pollution,
the amount varying a lot from place to place, and with time.
The adverse sky glow, the major light pollution impact for
professional astronomy, can make a major difference in the
astronomy that can be done at an observing site, and hence a
real fiscal impact on the observatory as well. It has been
growing in its impact, rapidly at some observatories.
Amateur astronomy and the publicís view of the night sky are
also affected. In addition, there are negative aspects on
most aspects of the nighttime environment, vision, ambiance,
energy waste, and even human health and the ecosystem. What
is done to improve any one of these also helps greatly to
improve on all of them. The main problems are lack of
awareness (even in the astronomy and the lighting community)
and the lack of action. This seminar is designed to help
with those problems. Attendees should go away well informed
of the problems and of the needed solutions, and one hopes
with the desire for action. Such action is critical for
minimizing these adverse impacts.